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Original poster

Anyone been to / going to Greek islands?

865 replies

Twobigsapphires · 18/07/2021 19:05

Due to holiday on Greek Island in 2 weeks. Really anxiety inducing, anyone in the area boat or can offer reassurance?

OP posts:
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8
No1HolidayPlanner · 22/08/2021 13:43

You need to book day 2 PCR for everyone.. we used Randox.. had no problems

ArabellaPilkington · 22/08/2021 19:55

Ahem. You are told you need to book Day 2 tests for everyone. In reality, you don't need booking reference numbers for DC if they're on your PLF and nobody checks up.

IME.

Wincher · 22/08/2021 22:47

Yes it was tempting not to bother with the day 2 tests for kids - no idea who would check up and how. But we did them all today goodly and drove the 25 minutes to our nearest drop box. Which was rammed, had to try to wedge them in at the top!

Scottishskifun · 23/08/2021 01:40

Can I just double check (following a BBC article about bloody testing which has me in a slight tizz that I've forgotten something!) with the people who have already flown to Greece....

If double vaccinated we do not need a test to fly out just our proof of vaccination???? DS is 2 so under the testing age.
Then it's a fit to fly test back and pcr on day 2.

morbidhamster · 23/08/2021 05:41

@Scottishskifun
That's absolutely correct.

TeenTitan007 · 23/08/2021 07:51

@Scottishskifun - if double vaccinated then you don't need a fit to fly test to do UK > Greece.

Having said that...
We arrived at Rhodes yesterday and they didn't check anything at all - not our vaccinations or DD's fit to fly test certificate (she's 14). No one was tested either. Just a brief glance at our PLF and we were out.

(The vaccinations and fit to fly were only checked once pre-baggage drop at Luton)

Scottishskifun · 23/08/2021 15:12

Thanks ladies I was having a self doubt panic in the early hours!

Eastisup · 23/08/2021 18:25

Help anyone!
Ive just completed the plf to fly on thursday and entered my details and my eldests details then when to enter my youngest and the form just clicked straight to thank you for completing when it asked for any non family travelling members so I couldn't enter my 16 yo on there! Does this seem right??

Wincher · 23/08/2021 18:39

@Eastisup

Help anyone! Ive just completed the plf to fly on thursday and entered my details and my eldests details then when to enter my youngest and the form just clicked straight to thank you for completing when it asked for any non family travelling members so I couldn't enter my 16 yo on there! Does this seem right??
Yes the Greek PLF is weird - it only seems to ask for some people’s details and only the lead passenger’s vaccine details. If you think you might have done it wrong you can always go back in and check and it will issue you a new PDF.
Eastisup · 23/08/2021 18:42

ok panic averted! I found the dashboard and managed to edit it and have got an updated qr code! Phew!
Thank you though @Wincher!

TeenTitan007 · 23/08/2021 21:52

@Eastisup - it is weird indeed. You need to click 'add additional member' (or such) several times and it allows you to enter as many people. I had a similar panic after entering the first person. Grin

Anyways, glad yours is resolved.

Excelsa · 24/08/2021 20:42

Hello, have been following this thread since July, in anticipation of our holiday to Corfu. It’s been such a weird time, couldn’t really get excited about something that may or may not have happened for a hundred different reasons. So, the relief when we made it through the airport without a hitch today was amazing!

In summary:
Tuesday flight from Birmingham at 07.10 - arrived pretty early (4.30ish) and was able to check in no problem. Bit of a queue. Only one guy (Ryanair) doing all the document checks and handling moving the baggage - luckily he was very efficient! He checked everything properly - vaccination certs included.
From then on everything was super speedy. Plane wasn’t completely full but a couple of people on most rows each side. Didn’t see any sign of anyone getting covid swabbed in Corfu airport. Was such a joy to get through!

Agree with previous comments re the Greek PLF. Firstly, I was also a bit concerned that only the lead passenger had to enter their covid vaccination details - but it was fine and both our vaccination certs were checked at Birmingham (just passports at the Greek side - think they presume it’s been done).

This is mostly reiterating what has already been said, but I know I like to read the same reassuring stuff a few times over, so thought it wouldn’t help to add another version.

Happy holidays and fingers crossed for everyone else getting where you want to go/getting home again!

willstarttomorrow · 24/08/2021 21:04

@40Scottishskifun- correct and like a previous poster we flew into Rhodes yesterday and we were out of the airport in 10 mins, they just glanced at our plf. Same flying out from Manchester, really stress free. The plane was half empty to we had a row each.

Even with testing, this holiday is 1/2 the price of staying in the UK. The weather is amazing, bobbed around in the pool today then wandered around and had a meal out tonight. We are flying back from kos so going to do a bit of island hopping.Fit to fly only €20 in kos and I am lucky enough to get to a clinic that will do the day 2 for £10. This is the lead price and for most people it would be inconvenient but it happens to be in the city next to mine and they still had some slots left. I am not too concerned if they are crap, just need to be able to fill the details on our PLF coming home!

Delatron · 25/08/2021 11:08

Just a little update for those going to Crete.
We didn’t have any issues coming back from Heraklion. Got to the airport two hours before flight. Queue wasn’t too bad at all. The lady checking us in was quite efficient. Checked LFT results and PLF but not vaccination certificates. We were in that queue for half an hour so I think we got off lightly but getting there early is a good shout!

Security was another half an hour or so. But we then had time to grab food. They did call boarding about 50 mins before departure. It takes a while to go through passport control. All in all no worse than other years to be honest.

Gatwick was an absolute breeze. I’ve never got through quicker. They checked passports and that was it! So just a bit of reassurance for those out there. Journey home was smooth!

Pleased our gamble paid off!

Adelphia1977 · 25/08/2021 14:43

Thanks Delatron. So good to know how others get on.

Jerseygirl12 · 25/08/2021 15:33

Thanks for the Crete update, I’m flying there on Saturday.

SwimmingUnderwater · 26/08/2021 11:23

Has anyone travelled to Crete from Scotland recently? What is the best place to book a PCR test and how do we get rapid antigen testing?
What is required during our holiday in terms of testing and what is the cheapest way to book these? I am really stressed about it all.

Scottishskifun · 26/08/2021 11:46

@SwimmingUnderwater

Has anyone travelled to Crete from Scotland recently? What is the best place to book a PCR test and how do we get rapid antigen testing? What is required during our holiday in terms of testing and what is the cheapest way to book these? I am really stressed about it all.
Your return day 2 tests (if fully vaccinated) can only be done via CTM as this is all the SG allow it's a massive con!

quarantinehotelbookings.ctmportal.co.uk/

You only need fit to fly on the way out if not fully vaccinated or with teenagers. Double check the companies as some of them with drop boxes are only available in the central belt. The airports have testing for fit to fly but its expensive, boots do as well.

As for when out there we are booking through the resort a LFT as its 20 euros each! You can also take them out there with you which are available for a number of companies.
I checked our hotel website which has info on the linked clinic and then went directly to them.
We are actually flying through England as until they reduced it recently it was a massive price difference and Scottish flights kept getting cancelled. I think it's improved recently though!

SwimmingUnderwater · 26/08/2021 11:51

At which stage do you have to have a test in Crete? I’m unclear. Is it LFT or PCR? I have lateral flow tests I can take with me, but will that be sufficient? I’m really struggling to understand this. Thank you for your help.

ArabellaPilkington · 26/08/2021 12:06

@SwimmingUnderwater

At which stage do you have to have a test in Crete? I’m unclear. Is it LFT or PCR? I have lateral flow tests I can take with me, but will that be sufficient? I’m really struggling to understand this. Thank you for your help.
We went to get them via the hotel doctor 2 days before we flew and he asked us to come back the next day - ie 24 hours before

Not sure if this is the same everywhere

You really don't need to boom it before you go

ArabellaPilkington · 26/08/2021 12:07

It's LFT not PCR in resort and you can't use the NHS ones

Scottishskifun · 26/08/2021 12:12

@SwimmingUnderwater

At which stage do you have to have a test in Crete? I’m unclear. Is it LFT or PCR? I have lateral flow tests I can take with me, but will that be sufficient? I’m really struggling to understand this. Thank you for your help.
You can't use NHS ones for fit to fly certification which you need to get in order to check in etc.

It's 48 hours before landing for LFT so we fly on Sunday we could test on Friday but incase of delays are booking for Saturday.

You can do either PCR has to be done at a medical centre and is valid for 72 hours but more expensive, LFT is cheaper and is 48 hours.

Scottishskifun · 26/08/2021 12:15

You can take private lft tests with you different companies have different systems either has to be witnessed via video or by upload of a photo. They will then issue a fit to fly certificate which you download. It's up to you if you go for in resort test or take the private ones with you.

IsabellesMissingSock · 26/08/2021 12:21

@SwimmingUnderwater

At which stage do you have to have a test in Crete? I’m unclear. Is it LFT or PCR? I have lateral flow tests I can take with me, but will that be sufficient? I’m really struggling to understand this. Thank you for your help.
As others have said, the nhs tests aren't acceptable.

For returning to England (it might be different for other U.K. countries) the return covid test has to be taken in the 3 days before (not 48 hours).

SwimmingUnderwater · 26/08/2021 12:32

Thanks this is very helpful.